162 THE SOUTH DEVON HUNT 



hundred yards ; the ground became foiled, scent was 

 faihng as the morning advanced and the hounds were 

 getting beaten. Many huntsmen would have given 

 up and gone home ; Mr. Studd went home, but it was 

 only to change his tired pack for a fresh one, while 

 those of the field who were left had some hasty 

 refreshment at the front door of Oxton. I really 

 forget whether he killed that fox or not, but the 

 incident speaks for itself. 



During a portion, at any rate, of Mr. Studd's 

 mastership the hunt horses were supplied on job by 

 Strong of Bampfylde Mews, Exeter, but the master 

 always had some useful ones of his own to ride him- 

 self. In particular one very well-bred little bay mare 

 called, I think, Polly used to carry him remarkably 

 well, and a huntsman needs a good one to get quickly 

 up such a hill, for instance, as the steep side of the 

 Harcombe Valley and begin to gallop at the top. 

 But, in truth, the master troubled little about his 

 horses ; as is the case with many huntsmen, his 

 hounds absorbed his whole interest, and the horse 

 was looked upon as a means of getting to the pack. 

 He was a light weight and a good rider. We probably 

 get fewer falls over fences in Devonshire than in other 

 countries, for if a horse can jump banks at all, he will 

 generally manage to get to the top of them, and it is 

 surprising how very seldom he falls in landing, even 

 where the drop is deep — and it is very deep some- 

 times — or the bank is stone-faced. But Mr. Studd 

 had at least two heavy falls on the flat ; one in 

 turning quickly out of a field into a road close to 

 Ugbrooke Park, and the other through deviating 

 slightly from the track through the bog in Luton 

 Bottom while galloping fast. On both occasions he 

 was knocked out of time for a while, but insisted on 



